A Pas youth leader has fired back at DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke Siew Fook, arguing that the party should prove its political courage by contesting Malay-majority constituencies instead of questioning Pas’ electoral strategy ahead of the Johor state election.
Datuk Muhamad Muqharabbin Mokhtarrudin, Pas Youth leader for the Federal Territories, said Anthony should not create the impression that only Pas carefully selects the seats it contests. He argued that DAP also focuses on constituencies where it enjoys strong political support and favourable voter demographics.
According to Muhamad Muqharabbin, if Anthony genuinely wanted to test political principles and bravery, DAP should be willing to field its top leaders in Malay-majority constituencies such as Shah Alam or Kuala Selangor. He also questioned whether DAP would be prepared to contest every Malay-majority seat while asking Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) to stand in Chinese-majority constituencies.
He stressed that every political party plans its election strategy based on organisational strength, public support and the demographic makeup of voters. In his view, this is a practical approach adopted not only by Pas but also by DAP and other political parties across the country.
The remarks came after Anthony claimed on Wednesday that Pas was reluctant to face DAP directly in the upcoming Johor state election and had instead relied on Barisan Nasional (BN) as a “proxy”. The Seremban MP alleged that Pas’ decision not to field candidates in constituencies contested by DAP formed part of a strategy to consolidate votes for BN candidates, particularly those from MCA.
Anthony, who is also the Transport Minister, further criticised Pas for urging its supporters to back BN candidates in seats where Perikatan Nasional (PN) is not contesting, describing the move as politically inconsistent.
Responding to the criticism, PN chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar explained that the coalition’s decision not to contest several non-Malay-majority constituencies in Johor was based solely on electoral calculations rather than fear of confronting DAP. He said candidate placement was determined by voter composition, candidate strength and the likelihood of securing victory.
As campaigning intensifies ahead of the Johor polls, both government and opposition leaders continue to defend their respective electoral strategies, underscoring how seat allocation remains a key battleground in Malaysia’s political landscape.
